Ophthalmic mounting



Patented May 12, 1925.

UNITED STATES CIATION F MASSACHUSETTS.

4PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. BOUTELLE, 0F lSTURBIiE-IDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0v AMERICAN OPTICAL COMPANY, .OF SOUTHBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, A VOLUNTARY .ASSO- OPHTHALMIC MOUNTING.

Applicationled January 17, 1921. Serial Vrc. 437,918.

To all wlw/m t may concern:

Be 1t known that I, WILLIAM H. BoUTnLLn,

a Vcitizen of the United States, residing at.

Sturbridge, in the county of VWorcester and i State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ophthalmic Mountings, yof which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in ophthalmic mountings andk has particular reference to frames of composition material intended' for the mounting. of opticallenses.

One of ,the principal objects of the present invention is the provision of a novel improved construction of substantially all shell or zylonite frame,which will be so constructed as to maintain lthe appearance of the all composition frame but which shall be relieved of certain defects present in prior art constructions.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a structure of this sort in which the size or bulk` and apparent weight of a frame of this sort may be materially 25 reducedI without impairing the rigidity and durability of the construction.-

A further object Vof the present invention is the provision of a novel and'v improved process of constructing a frame of this character in a'simple and eiiicient manner.

Other objectsand advantages of mypimproved construction should bel readily apparent by reference to the following specication taken in connect-ion with the accompanying drawings, and yit will bel understood that I may make any modifications in the specific details of construction or steps in the process hereinafter ,disclosed within the scope of the appended claims without departing from or exceeding the spirit of the invention.

Figure I represents a front View of a mounting embodying my improvements.

Figure II represents a transverse sectional view illustrating the embedded reinforcement.

Figure III represents a sectional view of the bridge on the line III-III of Figure II.

Figure IV represents a fragmentary view illustrating a step inthe process of manufacture.

Figure V represents a sectional view as on the line V--V of Figure II.

In the drawings, the numeral l designates the eye wire portions or lens rims of a mounting connected by the integral ybridge member 2, said parts being of well known form and together comprising what is ordinarily termed an all shell or all composition frame, it being under tood that the parts may be formed from either shell, Zylonite, Celluloid or similar composition material. y

A The ditiiculty'which has been experienced 'non-corrosion and the like, as well as the somewhat distinguished appearance parted by light weight shell rims, according to the opinions of many.'

It is the purpose of my invention, therefore, to provide a novel process of constructing a frame of this sort and a novel frame resulting from the process, which shall have all the desirable featuresof the all shell mounting, but which may be made much lighter or smaller vthan the mountings of the prior art, and which shall possess greater strength and durability than said mountings. In the accomplishment of this result I first form in any suitable manner the composition or non-metallic portion of the frame into substantially the shape shown` in Figure II. The partshaving beenthus formed I centrally split the bridge portion as at 3 and drill through the frames or rims l and ends of thebridge the apertures or passages as at 4. The parts having been so constructed I then insert into the passages t through the opening 3 the'continuous reinforcing member 5 in the form of a wire or the like. This wire is thendrawn tight in the bridging portion and locked in said tightly drawn position by the formation of the bend 5, t-he wire then being laid around in the groove 6 formed interiorly of the rim portion l, and its free end being provided with a right `angle bend or hook vportion 7 for locking engagement in the recess 8.

The parts having been thus assembled I suitably close up the opening as at 3 as through the combined action of the hook and a suitable celluloid adhesive and also preferably finally shape the interior of the lens receiving rims as by a heated presser to most satisfactorily embed the Wire 5 in the groove 6 and permanently unite the parts in a neat and attractive manner.

It Will thus be seen that the Wire reinforced eye Wires may be made of extremely light material, the one piece reinforcing member aiding the bridge in securely connecting the parts and lessening the liability of breakage at the junction of the frame and eye Wire, While imparting the additional advantage that a certain degree of adjustment may be given to they parts, either the lens rims or the bridge, by cold shaping or by slightly softening the material under the influence of heat.r in either event the embedded wire aiding in retaining the parts in adjusted position. 'This is particularl;7 advantageous when the structure is used with the linger-piece members 8 for retaining the mounting in position on the face, in that for the lirst time it is possible to slightly adjust or vary the bridge of an all shell mounting to properly fitthe nose of the wearer. The structure possesses a further advantage in connection Wit-h this type of mounting in that it makes up for the weakening of the zylonite by formation of the apertures 9 to receive the finger guards and provides a strong` and durable construction.

I claim:

l. The process of producing an ophthalmic mounting consisting in forming a onepiece combined bridge and eye Wire member of non-metallic material, grooving portions of said member, and piercing additional portions thereof, and applying a reinforcement to said memberby threading the reinforcement through the pierced portions and inlaying the terminal portions of the reinforcement in the grooved portions.

2. rllhe process of forming a combination frame consisting in shaping a composition member to provide a bridge and integral eye Wire portions, piercing the bridge, threading a reinforcement through the pierced portion of the bridge, and embedding the terminal portions of the reinforcement Within the eye Wires.

3. The process of forming a reinforced composition frame consisting in forming a one-piece bridge and eve Wire, interiorly grooving the eye Wire, introducing a reinforcement to the eye Wire by Way of the bridge, and embedding the reinforcement within the groove, substantially as described.

d; The process of forming a reinforced composition frame consisting in forming a one-piece bridge and eye Wire, interiorly grooving the eye Wire, introducing a reforcement to the eye Wire by Way of the bridge, embedding the reinforcement .Within the groove, and locking the termini of the reinforcements by embedding their outwardly deflected ends in the composition rims.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature, in presence of tivo Witnesses.

WILLIAM I-I. BOUTELLE.

litnesses ALICE G. HAsnnLL, SUSAN CAsAzzA. 

